Last progress July 30, 2025 (4 months ago)
Introduced on July 30, 2025 by Mike Lee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
This bill would let certain passenger ships that were not built in the United States get a “coastwise endorsement,” which is the approval needed to carry passengers between U.S. ports, either directly or with a stop in another country. It also removes a related section of existing law and says that these ships still have to follow all other U.S. laws unless the amendments here explicitly say otherwise .
Key points
| Who is affected | What changes | When |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger vessel operators and U.S. port communities | More vessels could qualify to carry passengers between U.S. ports by getting a coastwise endorsement, even if the ship was not built in the U.S. | The text provided does not specify an effective date; it would apply as amended once enacted . |